Marlins players have been worried about the team being broken up, but it’s probably going to happen because they’re not going anywhere. The most obvious trade chit: Dan Uggla, who is having a typical — maybe even slightly better than typical — Dan Uggla season and will once again be due for a big raise. Buster Olney says that if Florida is going to peddle him, the Rockies will be first in line, possibly offering catcher Chris Iannetta or some pitching to Florida.

The Rockies have won six of eight. Though that has only translated to a game or two in the standings because the Padres keep winning, the Rockies have put the Giants in their rear view mirror and are putting heat on the Dodgers. Overall, they still strike me as the most talented team in the west, and adding a bat to help make up for the continued absence of Troy Tulowitzki makes a heck of a lot of sense.

Boy it must be GREAT for Padres fans to watch every other team have the ability to get better at the deadline. Meanwhile, they just have to hope Their pitching keeps an ERA around 1. Thats too bad, because they are clearly a well run organization that just can’t do the things other teams can to cover up mistakes.

Probably going to happen? This is no time for differential equations Craig; we live, on the ground here, in a strictly Newtonian universe. But the loss of Uggla (and a few of his buddies, I predict) will be worth it if Larry Beinfest turns his attention to acquiring some slick contact-hitting infielders with speed and agility who can throw accurately to back up this pitching staff, or whatever’s left of it. By August second I expect to see the railway station platform in New Orleans and whatever other Buddhaforsaken cracker burgh the Feesh keep their farms in busy with milling, soft, pink, bewildered looking EYPs headed prematurely for Joeprodolsharklife Stadium.
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Uggla will have a good ole time at Coors, rack up some serious numbers and spend the winter susceptible to visions of sugarplums. The Feesh, in the meantime, might even be assembling a balanced team of guys who play their actual positions and can advance a runner once in awhile. And wouldn’t that be a kick in the head?

Ooops, hit that “post” button too soon. Finally: with two close to .300 hitting catchers of reasonable defensive ability already on the roster, Chris Ianetta addresses virtually none of the Feesh’ on field needs, unless he’s a transfer man in a three way trade of some sort. The Feesh need defensive smarts and some major assistance in the boolpen, and since it’s a good bet that a couple of starters will be moved as well – Chris Volstad and very possibly Ricky Nolasco (and Burke Badenhop and Joran Van Der Sl…heh heh, I mean Rick VandenHurk if they can be packaged to go as well), some EYPs for the starting rotation a year or so down the line. Should be an interesting two final weeks of July.